Labeling apparatus



s T w o m TA 1. w AA F G m MB A L Jan. 6, 1970 3 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 m m W r m J m M M 2 Wm ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,488,241 LABELING APPARATUS Maurice J. Faltot, Morris Plains, N.J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,162 Int. Cl. B32b 31/04; Gg 15/00 U.S. Cl. 156351 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The labeling mechanism is constructed as a unit to enable it to be installed alongside a conveyor in an existing packaging line and includes a label hopper for delivering labels to an intermittently rotatable, one revolution label drum during the periods of dwell of such drum, and means actuated by a traveling package on the conveyor for causing the drum to rotate to carry a delivered label over a glue roll and apply it to such package. Means are provided to automatically cause the hopper to advance in each cycle and the hopper is retracted by the build up of the vacuum in the drum after delivery of a label thereto. The means for automatically advancing the hopper may include means rendered operable by the package that is to be labeled. Alternatively this last package operable means may be utilized to provide vacuum in the drum after a label has been delivered to it.

This invention relates to labeling apparatus and is more particularly concerned with improved apparatus for applying labels to corrugated cardboard cartons.

Corrugated cardboard cartons are commonly employed for handling and shipping many types of products, such as foods packed in cans and light packages. These cartons are usually provided on their exterior surfaces with printed matter indicating generally the contents thereof. As it is very difiicult to provide on such cartons printed matter which is suificiently distinctive and prominent to readily apprise the handler of their contents, it is not unusual for mistakes to occur in the final distribution of the contents of such cartons. Furthermore, there is need today for greater information concerning the contents of the cans or packages in the cartons and it is desirable in many instances that this be available without opening the cartons. Information of this nature should be applied in a manner that is non-obstrusive yet clearly readable and the surfaces of these cartons do not readily lend themselves to this type of printing. Some companies also have a variety of products which they package for shipment in cardboard cartons. As the printed matter on cartons for each product is usually provided thereon before their use, it is necessary for such companies to resort to the expensive practice of carrying a relatively large inventory of differently printed cartons for the different products.

The aforesaid disadvantages resulting from the present methods of printing cartons, it has been found can best be overcome by applying to plain cardboard cartons as they are being used for particular products, labels which may be similar to the labels which are applied to the cans or packages to be contained therein. It is accordingly, the primary purpose of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for labeling cardboard cartons and other rectilinearly-shaped objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained unitary labeling unit that can be readily associated with and function in cooperation with separate conveyors of known construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved carton labeling unit capable of operating irregularly to apply labels to randomly arranged cartons on a 3,488,241 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 conveyor and being controlled in its operations by the cartons themselves as they are moved by the conveyor into association with such labeling unit.

Other objects of the invention as well as the advantages and features of novelty of the apparatus embodying the invention will appear from a perusal of the following description, when read in connection with the accompany ing drawings in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a labeling unit adapted for use by itself or in combination with case packer and sealer machines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the unit shown in FIG. 1 with the label hopper omitted for the sake of clearness;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a labeling apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a further modification of the invention.

The labeling unit depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings includes a belt conveyor A provided with guide mechanism B for the cartons D, and a labeling mechanism generally designated C.

The belt conveyor A may be a roller conveyor of known construction, or as illustrated, may be a powerized conveyor of a type known to the art and comprising a horizontal frame 10 approximately eight feet long and two feet wide and supported on the floor by four legs 11. Located between the sides of frame 10 is a belt 12 supported at its ends by the end rollers 13, 14, and intermediate the latter by a series of spaced rollers 15 in FIG. 2. The end roller 14 is driven by a motor 16. Mounted on one of the sides of frame 10 is a fixed horizontal carton guide rail 20 in the form of a round bar and which extends the entire length of the frame but is interrupted in the area of the label applying drum 21 of the labeling mechanism C. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the inner guiding surface of the rail 20 is contained in a vertical plane substantially tangent to the overall peripheral extent of the drum 21. The other side of the frame 10 is provided with three spaced brackets 22, which rotatably support posts 23 having adjacent to their upper ends transverse openings through which extend support bars 24, 25 and 26. The bars are secured in adjusted position to the posts by set screws 27 extending vertically down through the top end of the posts and manually operated through hand grips provided thereon. The bars 24, 25 support a horizontally disposed guide plate 28 in spaced relation over the belt 12. The guide plate 28 is inclined with relation to the fixed guide 20 and guides carton D moving from the inlet end of the conveyor into the space between the fixed guide 20 and a guide indicated generally by the numeral 30. The guide 30 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the fixed guide 20, is hingedly supported at one end on the inner end of guide 28 and is supported at its other end on the associated post 23 through bar 26. The guide 30 is provided throughout its length with a series of free rollers 31 which serve to guide the cartons D with a minimum of friction.

The conveyor A may form part of a system for conveying cartons from one of the units to another unit thereof and may receive cartons from such one unit at similar or varying time intervals. Thus, the conveyor may be positioned adjacent to a case sealer of known construction and from which the cartons D may be discharged thereonto at spaced intervals which vary quite substantially. It will be understood from the foregoing that the cartons D so fed to the conveyor A are driven along the length of the conveyor by the belt 12 thereof and that they are guided in their advancing movements by the fixed rail 20, the converging guide plate 28 which brings them into proper position between the guide rail and the guide 30, the series of rollers 31 of which are parallelly spaced from the rail 20 a distance approximating the width of the cartons being fed. The guides 28 and 30 are adjustably supported in position by the bars 24, and 26 and the rotatable posts 23 and may be adjusted from the positions shown to take care of cartons of different sizes. In a conveyor of the dimensions indicated, the guides 28 and 30 may be varied in position relative to the fixed guide 20 to enable the apparatus to accommodate cartons having widths for example, within the range of from about 5 to 60 inches. The guide 30 is provided with a longitudinally extending bar 32 on which are adjustably mounted limit switches 34 and 35 provided with operating members 34' and 35, respectively, disposed in the path of travel of the cartons and pivoted by the latter as the cartons are advanced by the conveyor belt 12. After successively engaging the switch members 34 and 35, an advancing carton moves past the label drum 21 of the labeling mechanism C and without interruption in its advancing movement has a label applied to the side wall thereof adjacent to such drum 21. Following the label drum 21, the label applied to the passing carton is engaged by a smoothing roll 36 which pressure rolls the label smoothly and securely in place on thecarton.

The labeling mechanism C in accordance with the invention form part of an independent unit which may be purchased separately as a unit and mounted alongside the conveyor A. The labeling mechanism C of such unit is composed of the label hopper, the glueing mechanism, the aforesaid label applying drum 21 and label smoothing roll 36, and associated parts. As is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 such labeling mechanism is mounted on a column 40 and is readily adjustable in its entirety on such column to the desired height with a range of vertical movement thereof of several feet. Thus, for example, the mechanism C may be adjusted to apply labels to the cartons so that the bottoms of such labels will be spaced from the bottoms of the cartons within a range of from about A to 60", and to take care of such range of vertical application on conveyors, the carton carrying runs of which may be spaced from about 16" to 26" above the floor. The column 40 is mounted on a base 41 which forms part of the unit and has adjustably mounted thereon a clamp generally designated 42 carrying a supporting plate generally designated 43. The plate 43 at a place offset from the column 40, note FIG. 1, is provided with a screw thread which is engaged by a vertically disposed threaded rod 44. The upper end of rod 44 is also loosely engaged with a plate 47 provided on the top of column 40. Provided on the top end of rod 44 is an adjustment wheel 45 which may be manually turned to adjust the vertical positions of the clamp 42 and the supporting plate 43 relative to the column 40. Mounted on the clamp 42 is a drive and pump motor 46 for the labeling mechanism C which is supported on the plate 43.

The labeling mechanism includes a label hopper comprising a hopper base plate 50, in FIG. 1, on which are mounted a supply 53 of labels standing on edge. The label supply is supported in such position by side plates 51, 51' adjustably secured to the base plate 50, a front spring finger 54 attached to the side plate 51' and extending horizontally across the front of the label supply 53 to a point short of the side plate 51, and a back plate 52. The back plate 52 is mounted on one end of a rod 55 slidably supported by a bracket 56 mounted on the base plate and is yieldably pressed against the label supply by any suitable 'means such as the spring 57. The base plate 50 of the hopper is carried by a double acting air cylinder 60 in FIG. 3 that advances such plate and accordingly the entire hopper toward the label drum 21 and then withdraws it from such drum. The movements of the air cylinder 60 are controlled by a single solenoidspring return, 4-way air valve 61 mounted on the clamp 42 secured to column 40.

In the advanced position of the label hopper, that portion of the foremost label in the supply between the free end of the spring finger 54 and the side plate 51, will be engaged by the mouthpiece segment 62 of the label drum 2.1, the interior of the latter of which is always connected to the suction side of the drive and pump motor 46. As soon as the suction holes in the mouthpiece segment 62 are covered and sealed by the foremost label the vacuum in the drum will rise and cause it to grip the label firmly enough to slide the foremost label from under the spring finger 54 on the next rotational movement of the drum 21. The mouthpiece segment projects slightly from the overall peripheral surface of the drum (note FIGS. 1 and 3) and adjacently following the mouthpiece segment is a pad 63 of suitable material such as rubber against which the label is pressed as it is moved by the drum past a glue applying roller 64 associated with a suitable glue pot 65. As previously mentioned the glued label is then applied to a carton D and smoothed on the surface of the catron by a roll 36.

Considering now the mechanism disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3 in connection with the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the control circuit associated with such mechanism includes the limit switch 34 which has a common contact connected to the line L by conductor wire 71 and a normally closed contact 72 connected by conductor wire 74 to the coil 73 of a double-pole single throw relay having contacts 75 connected to the line L so that they bypass limit switch 34 thus functioning as an interlock to enable contact 72 of such switch to be opened without deenergizing relay coil 73. Contacts 75 are open when relay coil 73 is deenergized.

The limit switch 35 associated with limit switch 34 on guide 30, has a contact on its arm 81 connected by a conductor wire 82 to the arm contact 83 of a normally open limit switch 84, and a normally open contact 85 connected by a conductor wire 86 to the normally open contact 87 of a vacuum switch 90. The common arm contact 91 of switch is connected by a conductor wire 92 to the normally open contact 93 of limit switch 34. The normally close contact 94 of vacuum switch 90 is connected by a conductor wire 95 to the contacts 96 of the double pole single throw relay having the coil 73 and contacts 75. The contacts 96 are further connected by a conductor. wire 97 to the solenoid pilot valve 61 for operating the hopper air cylinder 60. Valve 61 is also connected by a conductor wire 98 to the line L Also included in the circuit is a standard solenoid 100 that is used to actuate a clutch dog controlling a singlerevolution clutch mounted on the label drum shaft and which is connected by a conductor Wire 101 to the normally open contact 102 of the limit switch 84. Solenoid 100 is also connected by a conductor wire 103 to the arm contact 104 of a single pole normally open limit switch 105, which contact is also connected to relay coil 73 by a conductor wire 106. The normally open contact 107 of switch is connected by a conductor wire 108 to the line L Limit switch 105 may be termed a reset switch and is operated by a cam 110 mounted on the shaft 111 of the label drum 21 (compare FIGS. 3 and 4). Associated with cam 110 is a follower 112 mounted for lengthwise slidable movement in a guide 113 and pressed into engagement with the cam 110 by a spring 114 seated on the guide 113 and engaging a collar 115 provided on the follower. The cam 110 is designed to cause the follower 112 to open limit switch 105 after the initial 15 degrees of rotation of the label drum 21 from a position of rest and to cause the follower to close switch 105 when the label drum has rotated about 310 degrees.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the coil 73 of the double-pole single throw relay is energized by closing the single pole double throw limit switch 34 and the limit switch 105. Since coil 73 is energized, its associated contacts 75 and 96 are closed. The closed contacts 75 function as an interlock, by-passing limit switch 34, and thereby enabling such switch to be opened without deenergizing relay coil 73. The closed contacts 96 provide a potential current path through the solenoid valve 61 via the vacuum switch 90 and the limit switch 34. The label hopper will be in retracted position and in such position a cam dog 120 in FIG. 3, adjustably fastened to the underside of the hopper base plate 50, closes limit switch 84, thereby placing the circuit in a condition in which all that is necessary to actuate the clutch solenoid 100 is to actuate limit switch 35. The label drum 21 will be positioned with its mouthpiece 62 in position to engage the formost label in the supply 53. The rotation of the label drum 21 is accomplished through a single revolution clutch 121 in FIG. 3 of known construction mounted on the drum shaft 111 and connecting such shaft to the drive and pump motor 46 when disengaged by a clutch dog 122. The clutch dog is connected to and controlled by the clutch solenoid 100 so that it is withdrawn to actuate the clutch 121 to cause label drum 21 to rotate when solenoid 100 is energized, and is advanced into the clutch 121 to disconnect the drum shaft 111 from motor 46 when the solenoid 100 is deenergized.

Assuming now that a carton D advanced by the conveyor 12 hits the finger 34' of limit switch 34, thereby causing the contact arm thereof to move into engagement with contact 93 and close the switch. The closing of limit switch 34 switches the current flow through the normally closed vacuum switch 90, rela contacts 96 and the solenoid valve 61. When the current energizes the coil of the solenoid valve 61, the valve is tripped to cause air to be supplied to the air cylinder 60 to move the label hopper in toward the labeling drum 21. Thus limit switch 34 functions as a package detector and signals for a label by causing solenoid valve 61 and air cylinder 60 to operate to advance the label hopper. In conjunction with limit switch 105 it also prevents a repeat operation regardless of the length of the package D. When the label hopper advances, the cam dog 120 releases limit switch 84 permitting it to open and such switch remains open until it is again closed by the withdrawal of the hopper base plate 50 to its original fully retracted position. Thus, limit switch 84 functions as a safety switch to prevent the label drum 21 from rotating while the label hopper is delivering a label to such drum. When the foremost label in the supply 53 contacts the mouthpiece segment 62 on the label drum in the advanced position of the label hopper, such label seals off the suction holes in such mouthpiece thereby causing the vacuum in the mouthpiece to rise. When the vacuum reaches a suitable value, say from 11 to 13" Hg, the vacuum switch 90 trips to send current through its normally open contact 87 and to stop the flow of current to the solenoid valve 61 thereby releasing the hopper and causing it to return to its original retracted position leaving the foremost label held to the mouthpiece 62 by the increased vacuum. It will thus be understood that the vacuum switch 90 performs a dual function. In the first place it determines whether a label is present on the gluing drum mouthpiece 62, andsecondly, by failing to operate in the event there are no labels in the hopper, or there is not created suificient vacuum to hold a label securely on the mouthpiece 62, it prevents rotation of the label drum 21 by preventing any current flow to the clutch solenoid 100.

In the aforesaid condition of the parts, it will be observed that the normally open contact 93 of limit switch 34 is closed, the normally open contact 87 of the vacuum switch 90 is closed, the normally open contact 102 of switch 84 will be closed by the cam dog 120, and limit switch 105 will be closed. Thus, there is provided a potential current path through the clutch solenoid 100.

The carton D which actuated limit switch 34, has been traveling along the conveyor A While the above operations have been taking place, and comes into engagement with the finger 35 of the second limit switch 35 associated with the conveyor. The actuation of finger 35 swings the contact arm 81 of switch 35 into engagement with its normally open contact 85 thereby enabling current to flow to the clutch solenoid 100. The energization of the clutch solenoid causes the clutch dog 122 to retract to actuate the single revolution clutch 121 to cause the label drum 21 to rotate. The rotating drum carries the label held by the mouthpiece 62 across the adhesive applying roll 64 and then applies the label to the passing carton D. It will thus be seen that the position of the limit switch 35 with relation to the label drum 21 determines the horizontal location on the carton at which the label will be applied by such drum. It has been found desirable for a satisfactory operation of the apparatus to mount the switch 35 on the guide 30 in the region approximately opposite the labeling mechanism C and spaced about 6 to 8 inches from the limit switch 34.

During the first 15 degrees of rotation of the label drum 21 the cam 110 permits the limit switch to remain closed. When the drum 21 and consequently cam has rotated that extent, the latter falls away, permitting the spring 114 to retract the follower 112 and thereby allow limit switch 105 to open. When this occurs, the relay coil 73 deenergizes to cause its associated contacts 75 and 96 to open, and the clutch solenoid 100 deenergizes to allow the clutch dog 122 to return to its advanced position thereby disconnecting the drum shaft 111 from its drive and causing it to stop its rotation at the end of one revolution through the one revolution clutch 121. The relay coil 73 cannot be reenergized until both of the limit switches 34 and 105 are again closed, and so long as limit switch 105 remains open, neither the valve solenoid 61, nor the clutch solenoid 100 can be reenergized. The limit switch 105 therefore functions as a safety switch. The cam 110 permits the limit switch 105 to close again when the label drum 21 has rotated through approximately 310 degrees, after the label has been applied to the carton and approximately 25 degrees after the vacuum in the mouthpiece 62 has been definitely relieved and the vacuum switch 90 has returned to its original state. When the carton passes limit switch 34 it closes to enable the cycle to be repeated with the closing of limit switch 105.

In the modified construction shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, wherein parts thereof similar to those shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings have been provided with the same reference numerals, the limit switch 34 for controlling the movement of hopper plate 50 in the above described machine has been eliminated, and the machine has been modified so that it will operate to supply a label to the label drum and cause the latter to apply the label to a carton D merely by the actuation of the limit switch 35 by such carton. This is accomplished by substituting for the double-pole single throw relay between the line L and the limit switch 105, a time delay relay 125 having normally open contacts 126. The arrangement is such that when the limit switch 105 is closed after 310 degrees rotation of the label drum in the manner previously described, the coil of the time delay relay 125 is energized and the time delay feature is set to close the contacts 126 after the label drum 21 has completed its rotation and is at rest. When the contacts 126 close they provide a current path from the line L through such contacts, contact 94 on the vacuum switch 90 and the solenoid valve 61 to the line L As above described, the energization of solenoid air valve 61 results in the advancement of the label hopper to place a label on the mouthpiece 62 of the label drum and the consequent rise in vacuum to cause the vacuum switch 90 to trip and thereby deenergize valve 61 to cause the label hopper to retract and close the limit switch 84.

As a result of the aforesaid operations, there will be a label held by suction on the mouthpiece 62 of the label drum, the label hopper will be retracted, limit switch 84 closed, contacts 126 closed and the arm of the vacuum switch 90 engaging its normally open contact 87. All that is required to deliver the label to a carton D is to close the limit switch 35 which is controlled by such carton. When limit switch 35 is actuated by the carton, the clutch solenoid 100 will be energized to cause the drum to rotate in the manner above described; the time delay relay 125 being deenergized when limit switch 105 is opened after the drum has rotated 15 degrees, as previously described. thereby opening the relay contacts 126 and deenergizing the clutch solenoid 100 causing the clutch dog 122 to return to its advanced position to stop the drum rotation when it completes one revolution.

The embodiment shown in FIG. -6 of the drawings was devised to cause the delivery of a label to the label device prior to the arrival of a carton to be labelled, but not to produce a vacuum in the drum until the carton has arrived at the labeling apparatus. This is accomplished by providing in a circuit arrangement substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 5, a solenoid operated vacuum valve 130 which controls the vacuum from the motorpump unit 46 and which is energized by the first line switch 34, and by utilizing the second line switch 35 in FIG. 1 to release the clutch solenoid 100.

It will be observed in the operation of the arrangement of FIG. 6, that the limit switch 105, time delay relay 125, contacts 126, solenoid valve 61 and the label hopper will operate in a manner similar to that described with respect to the arrangement of FIG, 5, to place a label on the mouthpiece 62 of the label drum 21. Since there is no vacuum being furnished the drum, the label hopper will remain in an advanced position until an advancing carton D closes limit switch 34, causing the vacuum valve 130 to close and provide vacuum in the drum. When the thus created vacuum rises to the required value due to the presence of the label on the mouthpiece, the vacuum switch 90 will then be actuated to deenergize the solenoid valve 61 and cause the withdrawal of the label hopper. When the carton D then closes the second limit switch 35, the clutch solenoid 100 will be energized to complete the cycle in the manner indicated in the description of FIG. 5 of the drawings.

While I have herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, several forms in which my invention may be practiced, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that further modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Labeling apparatus for applying labels to articles, comprising a label drum mounted for rotational movement about a fixed vertical axis and having a suction mouthpiece for supporting a label, means for supplying suction to said mouthpiece, a label hopper, means supporting said hopper for movement toward and away from said mouthpiece, means for advancing said label hopper to apply a label to said mouthpiece, means controlled by the vacuum in said mouthpiece and operative on an increase in such vacuum due to the provision of a label thereon to retract said label hopper, means for driving said label drum, including a one revolution clutch, means controlling the operation of said clutch, means controlled by said label hopper for controlling the operativeness of said clutch controlling means, means controlled by an article to be labelled for causing said clutch controlling means to actuate said clutch, and means connected to said drum for disengaging said clutch controlling means from said clutch at the end of a given rotational movement of said drum less than 360.

2. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for advancing said label hopper comprises an air cylinder connected to said hopper, a solenoid air valve controlling said cylinder, and means for energizing said solenoid when said label drum is at rest with the suction mouthpiece thereof in label receiving position, and in which said means for retracting said label hopper comprises said solenoid air valve, and a vacuum switch controlling said solenoid air valve and operable on an increase in the vacuum in said mouthpiece to deenergize said solenoid air valve.

3. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said means for energizing said solenoid air valve comprises a switch located in the path of movement of an article to be labeled and operative by the article to cause electrical current to be sent to said solenoid air valve.

4. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said means for energizing said solenoid air valve comprises a time delay relay electrically connected to said valve, said means connected to said drum being operable to energize said time delay relay when disengaging said clutch controlling means prior to the end of a cycle of movement of said drum, said time delay being set to cause electrical current to be sent to said solenoid air valve after said drum has completed such cycle of movement and is at rest.

5. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for controlling the operation of said clutch comprises a clutch dog movable from an advanced position out of engagement with said clutch to actuate the latter and a solenoid connected to said clutch dog for advancing and retracting the same, and in which said means controlled by an article to be labeled comprises a switch located in the path of movement of such article and operable by the latter to cause said solenoid to be operated to retract said clutch dog.

6. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said means controlled by the label hopper for controlling the operation of said clutch controlling means comprises a normally open switch electrically connected to said solenoid, and a cam dog carried by said label hopper and operative in the retracted position of said label hopper to close said normally open switch and provide a current path to said solenoid, said cam dog permitting said normally open switch to break such current path on movement of said label hopper from said retracted position.

7. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said last mentioned means comprises a switch electrically connected to said clutch controlling means, a cam connected to said drum and rotatable therewith, and means operatively connecting said cam to said switch, said cam being designed to open said switch after an initial given rotational movement of said drum and to close said switch to cause the engagement of said clutch controlling means after said given rotational movement of said drum less than 360.

8. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a solenoid vacuum valve controlling the vacuum in said drum, and a switch located in the path of movement of an article to be labeled and operative by the article to actuate said solenoid vacuum valve to provide vacuum at the suction mouthpiece of said drum.

9. Labeling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a first guide having an article guiding edge tangential to the periphery of said label drum, a second movable guide spaced from said first guide and having provided thereon a series of rollers the inner peripheral portions of which are contained in a tangential line spaced from the tangential edge of said first guide a distance equal to the width of the articles to be labeled.

10. A labeling unit adapted to be associated with a conveyor for articles comprising a base, an upright standard mounted on said base, supporting means vertically movable on said standard, means for selectivelly positioning said supporting means vertically of said standard,

said supporting means carrying label applying apparatus including a drive and pump motor unit, a label drum, means mounting said drum for rotational movement about an axis transverse to the line of movement of the articles on the conveyor, means drivingly connecting said drum to said motor unit for intermittent one revolution rotational movement of said drum, and suction creating means including means connecting label holding suction holes in said drum to said motor unit, said supporting means further carrying a label hopper, means supporting said label hopper for movement toward and away from said drum, hopper moving means for advancing said label hopper to deliver a label to said label drum and to retract said hopper after such delivery, and means for rendering adhesive one side of a label held to said drum by the suction in said suction holes as the drum moves the label from the place of delivery thereto toward a place of application to a moving article on the associated conveyor, and means controlled by a traveling article on said conveyor for rendering said driving connecting means operative to initiate a one revolution movement of said drum and thereby cause the drum to move the label from the place of delivery thereto and to apply the same to the article initiating such movement at the place of application.

11. A labeling unit as defined in claim 10, in which said hopper moving means is operative to advance the hopper during the periods of dwell of said drum, and including means controlling said driving connecting means and operative to prevent the latter rotating said drum during the delivery of a label thereto by said hop- 12. A labeling unit as defined in claim 10, including means controlling and operative to cause said hopper moving means to advance the hopper to deliver a label to said drum during a period of dwell of the drum.

13. A labeling unit as defined in claim 12, in which said controlling means includes a second means controlled by a traveling article on said conveyor and operative by the article prior to the operation by such article of said first mentioned controlled means to advance hopper toward said drum.

14. A labeling unit as defined in claim 10, including a second means controlled by a traveling article on said conveyor controlling said suction creating means and operable by the article after said hopper moving means has advanced said hopper toward said drum and prior to the operation by such article of said first mentioned controlled means, to cause said suction creating means to provide vacuum on said drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,278 11/1934 Mudd 156566 XR 2,033,849 3/1936 Mudd l56-571 XR 2,279,844 4/1942 Smith et a1 156-567 XR 2,773,617 12/1956 Weiss .m 156568 XR 3,039,516 6/1962 Vinal 156556 HAROLD ANSHER, Primary Examiner M. E. MCCAMISH, Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

